This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 26th day of May, 1934, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [349], Active Member of the Ass''n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis and L. B. Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 11:40 to 12:10 Noon - Eastern Standard Time. ..., N.Y. (Body and enquiring mind, in regard to her mental and material well-being. Questions.)
1. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [349]; this we have had before, and those conditions mentally and materially that confront the body as problems at this time.
2. Ready for questions.
3. (Q) As once given, as to type of person I want to marry, the proper answer should come from within myself. It has been given it would be well for me to marry [Dr. [4948]] this summer or early Fall. I do not feel that response within myself. Why has this been given at this time? (A) In viewing and reviewing that which has been given respecting associations and relations with this body, there should be taken into consideration - in considering or analyzing that which has been outlined as the better - the frame or attitude of mind at and during such experiences when such questions were or are asked; [GD's note: After all, she introduced the subject when she first asked about marrying Dr. [4948]!] and as to how or from what source information comes. There are always those reactions from the attitude or that expressed or manifested in the mind of an individual. For, as has been given, Mind is the builder; whether from the material desires, the mental attitude, or the spirit inception that gives growth to the ideas expressed or that are thoughts in the mind of an individual. And those answers or expressions, when such are given, are only the records made by the mind of the individual as it would grow in the experience of self as related to conditions, individuals or experiences that are sought or expressed in thought through the growth of same in mental reaction at the time. Hence, as we find in relationships with this body [349] and [4948], as is seen from those angles or desires in the mental attitude of the body when sought, relating to the
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material conditions and that which would make for a growth in the experience of the body, such relationships would be well - and they still exist! But if the mind of the body turns itself upon itself and finds that in its associations or relations, within its mental attitude of itself, there are those conditions, experiences or attributes of the body that build for relationships that become antagonistic, then these are building in a different direction. Yet, as we find, in the light of the experiences of the entity and of [4948] - as to that being builded within himself as relationships to the material and mental desires - these still would be well. Then, how may such advice be made compatible with much that has been given from time to time, experience after experience of the entity in the light of those desires that have been builded in the body? As we have given, knowledge is well and the principles thereof are based in mentality or the mental attributes of an individual body and soul, whether the activities of the individual respecting these are in the light of spiritual desire or physical desire. For, if they are such as to bring in one's experience the satisfaction of selfish interests for fame, fortune, position, name or the like, they are physical. If they are such as to make for the spiritual attributes and the will respecting same in the direction as to build such influences, then they make for the spiritual development - or the soul and mental development of the self. If there is the incapacity of an individual to KNOW within self as to whether it has chosen good or evil, ask within self, "What is the DESIRE that is being gratified by the attributes of that relationship sought?" If it is the answer for those things that are an aggrandizement of self and self's own physical desires, then it is carnal or material. Is it for the creating of self as a channel for an expression of the spiritual influences that have been impelling and do impel the activities, then it is spiritual. As to the choices, these must ever be in self. For, if freewill or the desire (which is an attribute or an expression of will) were taken from man, or from the human soul, it would then become rather the automaton, rather the animal, or rather the spirit of animal activity in a material world; hence not of itself. Rather, when the activity is not of self, let it be not in materiality but in spirituality - and the expressions thereof in self's activities. What, then, respecting such associations? As conditions
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exist in the lives of each of these individuals, as they exist in the material and in the mental world, yet we find these would be well. Can such not be chosen by the body, then forget it - and do as thou would like to do thine own self! The price must be paid! There is no such thing as receiving without giving; for he that would have life must give life, he that would have joy must make joy in the lives of others, he that would have peace and harmony must create and make peace in self and in the relationships with others. This is the law, for like begets like; and ye do not gather olives from thistles, neither apples from bramble bushes, neither dost thou find love in hate.
4. (Q) Even in view of all the information as given respecting my great wish to be an actress - is it too late? Am I too old to start this new phase? (A) If the desire of the heart, of the mind, is such as to build rather a career that is for the gratification of those interests that are creative within themselves to bring certain characters of activity. But the very purposes that have been given thee, that thou wouldst find in the very activity that which must give of the very body itself in carnal desire to build for such experiences, should make for the knowledge within self that in such a field that has come to mean this in the lives of others ye cannot gather good from evil. Ye cannot do evil that good may come of same. You cannot submerge thine self that these can be the better. Time has passed, yea. From time to time, under certain circumstances and environs sought, the END was given - yet ever has there been given that ye must pay the price - every whit! For, what ye sow ye must reap. Have ye sown in dishonor, have ye sown in making thine conscience subjugated to that which tells within self that this is not the way; then ye must reap that which comes. Has the time wholly passed? No. But art thou willing to pay the price? Success may be made in the activities on the stage or in the cinema, for there is continuing to be sought the new faces, the new types, for feeding the bodies of same to what? Indulgencies of one character, nature or another! And while they may build and may draw interest within self that will satisfy an ambition, as we have given, ambition - unless it is tested in God's crucible - is of itself sin. Not that one should not be ambitious, no - but rather ambitious that God should be the guide and not self, or man.
5. (Q) It was given on Aug. 27, 1930 [349-7], that in development of self, a dramatic career would be a channel for development and for success that would be rather
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phenomenal and well. (A) (Interrupting) As has been outlined, and as was given above, it is a channel - but what a channel! A phenomenal success, yea - in the eyes of the world, yea. In the body of the soul, with two ways set before thee, what wilt thou choose? Yea, a success and a development of the mental forces may be attained through such channels, but - as we have given - the home is the greater development for any soul. For, in the material world it is the nearest akin to that expression, "I prepare a place, that where I am there ye may be also." In seeking, then, it should be considered that changes have come; four years of strenuous strain in the commercial, political, scientific, mental and religious worlds; and in the very body itself there have been disappointments and disillusionments as to what is required under such strain. If such a career is chosen by self, well - but, as He has given thee, "Though ye wander far afield, if ye will call on my name I will be faithful to answer," and "If ye will be my people, I will be your God." Consider under what circumstance the question was sought; the connections, the expectations, the desires, when that was asked, and the answer is the same. Yea, in a career may be development, may be advancement - but has there not been shown thee what a price thou payest? Choose thou!
6. (Q) In my case, I want to be an actress - (A) (Interrupting) Then BE an actress! Self and soul is the price! The body and soul is the price!
7. (Q) Am I at this time ready to take up this work? (A) If thou hast chosen within thine self that thou art ready to pay the price, thou mayest rise to heights that few have scaled - but what if thou gain the whole world in fame, fortune, position, even in power, and lose thine own soul?
8. (Q) Mr. [257]'s affairs are still so unsettled, yet I have been devoting a little time each day to helping him. Am I right in feeling at this time that I should devote all my time and energy in trying to make a connection in the theatre and give up office work for good? (A) If thou hast chosen this, give it all up and pay the price - and be in the theatre, in the cinema, in the eyes of the world one climbing to fame and fortune upon the blood of its own conscience and the beauty of its own soul and home!
9. (Q) Would there be an opportunity again for me to make money working for Mr. [257] should that be the right plan for me to follow at present? (A) For the immediate future, and those surroundings and connections that may be made, it would be well.
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Choose thou, first. KNOW in what direction thou art headed. Then WORK in that way. GIVE, if ye would receive.
10. (Q) It was once given, a dramatic career may be had and it will satisfy or will make for contentment, and that there would be something still unsatisfied were I to marry first without having the experience of a stage career - (A) (Interrupting) Art thou not playing on the stage of life, and hast it not been dramatic enough for thee in the experiences thou hast had in the last two and half years? Thou art hard to satisfy! For, the world IS a stage - and each the actor thereon. Has it not been given thee under what direction that there may be chosen the greater plan, the greater way? While other men, other conditions have entered into thine experience, wilt thou lay aside this opportunity - or wilt though say to thine soul, "Be still"? For, while there is life and hope and the desire ahead that urges on to carry on in the directions of a career, there may be followed those channels that will make for the satisfying and the building up; in first the barnstorming, then choosing those channels or lines through which ye may have the opportunity for the making of the tests - and the activities in the field where the speaking voice is necessary (for thou art well adapted in this direction) - and then comes the end.
11. We are through. Copy to Self " " Ass'n file